Storage

Having the proper tools at your fingertips makes everything you need to do a bit easier. In the tech world, sometimes the simpler the tool, the better. Having a docking station in your workspace can make data easier to manage and outfitting that docking station as a standalone duplicator makes it an indispensable utility. It wasn't that long ago that StarTech sent us the SATDOCK22RE for review and today, ineo thinks they have a product that can do the job better... and faster. Enter the ineo I-NA321U+, a hard drive docking station and standalone duplicator.

The world of the home server and the home based NAS really hasn't changed drastically over the last couple of years. Most of the changes we have seen are related to speeds and basic firmware enhancements. Recently, Thecus has announced its N5550 NAS and plans to shake things up by bringing the NAS out of the home office and into the living room. The N5550, by day, is your mild-mannered NAS. However, by night, the N5550 is more... much more!

Nothing gets my cooling fans going like a new hard drive! With that, I have yet to hop on the SSD wagon, until now. I have resisted as long as possible because even though the benchmarks were there, the prices just were not. Crucial thinks they can make me a believer and is trying to butter my biscuit with the M4 SSD...

Let's face it, the world of storage has changed dramatically over the last few years. The increasing size of media has brought new need to the market and those needs are no longer being filled by CD's, DVD's, or external hard drives anymore. The limitations behind such media in a connected world have brought about a storage revolution of sorts. It is now commonplace for consumers to purchase the once business oriented NAS to supply media, data, and perform backups for the various devices we now have in our homes. There is no shortage of choices when trying to find a NAS, but some are better for users and some are better for power users. LaCie thinks they have the perfect NAS for someone that doesn't want to be bothered with tedious configurations and confusing setups. Enter the LaCie 2big NAS, a two bay NAS that promises to deliver on performance without sacrificing simplicity.

Thecus has been on a winning streak lately with the introduction of some new products in their lineup. The N4200PRO proved to be a very competitive product and the introduction of the N8900 gave us power hungry enthusiasts with something to salivate over. Although the four bay N4200PRO delivered top notch performance and incorporated a built-in mini UPS, it was …

QNAP is no stranger to the storage world and with the introduction of their latest 8 bay NAS, QNAP is also hoping to be no stranger to your server room. The TS-879U-RP, much like other QNAP offerings, serves as both an IP-SAN (iSCSI) and a NAS. QNAP had already impressed us with their home or SOHO NAS, the TS-419P+. Let's see if they can keep the magic going with their SMB NAS, the TS-879U-RP.

Larger storage solutions are becoming standard fare in today's home and office. We are collecting more data about everything than just a few years ago. With the transition many homes and small companies are making into the digital realm with data and storage, it may become a dizzying proposition to find a solution to your storage needs. In many circumstances, a NAS may just be overkill and a simple answer is what you are looking for. Enter the RAIDAGE GAGE104U40SL-SAUF Trayless Hardware RAID enclosure.

Recently, I had the opportunity to look at two NAS devices from two different manufacturers, QNAP and Drobo. Both devices received high praise and Thecus thinks that their N4200PRO can steal the thunder. NAS storage is nothing new and it is becoming harder and harder for manufacturers to differentiate themselves from one another. Thecus thinks they can not only outperform …

If you are running out of space on your home computer, or you want to easily store files on a networked device that makes sharing them easy, a NAS may be the right option for you. The thing about NAS though is that they are not as simple as they once were. The choices are many and configuring some of these can make it somewhat of a daunting idea. This is where the line needs to be drawn between simple network attached storage and a feature rich solution that offers probably more than most people need. Drobo claims that their FS model is the best storage experience ever for simple file sharing and network backup for home and home office users.

The days of using thumb drives and floppy disks to store your valuable data are gone. Today the options are many and for those of us looking for an easy to use storage solution, QNAP thinks they have the answer. The idea of a home server is nothing new and Microsoft has been trying to attack this market with their Windows Home Server operating system. What users may not know about is that companies that have been producing NAS systems for business recognized your needs and are starting to release products that fit very well in the home office or small office. These systems are small, use very little power, pack a ton of features, and are easy to use.